Selection of indigenous pecan [Carya illinoensis (Wang) K. Koch.] trees for better nut and kernel quality characters

The present study was undertaken on 36 pecan [Carya illinoensis (Wang) K Koch.] trees preselected from a total of 75 trees of semi- cultivated conditions growing in district Chamba of Himachal Pradesh. Based on the characterization and evaluation of nuts and kernels, pecan trees excelled in major economically important characteristics. All the 36 seedling trees exhibited extreme variation for individual traits. Nut weight varied from 3.97–10.03 g, shell thickness varied from 0.30–1.85 mm, kernel weight from 2.32–5.73 g, kernel percentage 37.54–73.74%, kernel protein 0.78–11.33%, kernel oil 44.28–74.40%. As many as 14 selections had kernels with golden colour, 20 with light brown, 1 with dark reddish brown and 1 with brown colour. Only six genotypes viz., Tree No. 40, Tree No.41, Tree No.20, Tree No.10, Tree No.2 and SP-2 produced nuts and kernels of desirable quality. The present effort aims at highlighting the importance of selected pecan trees of seedling origin in previously unexplored region from conservation and breeding point of view.